This Monitor file photo shows a flag-draped headstone on the grounds of St. Mary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hamilton, where a Mass is celebrated on Memorial Day every year. In his 2019 Memorial Day message, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., reflects on the meaning of the day for Americans, and then from a Catholic perspective, he speaks of how "sacrifice and dying for others is the very root of our faith." John Blaine photo

Memorial Day is observed throughout the United States on the last Monday in May.

This national holiday is widely considered the beginning of summer, a few weeks shy of the actual calendar date. Many families celebrate by displaying the flag, attending parades and carnivals, opening swimming pools, having backyard barbecues and, for many, taking a day off from work or school. Another custom regularly followed is the traditional visit to cemeteries where members of the military who gave their lives for our country are buried.

As a nation, different from Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day honors those brave women and men who proudly wore the uniform of our armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifices that have become the lifeblood of our republic. It is entirely fitting that we remember them with gratitude and pride.

Memorial Day is observed throughout the United States on the last Monday in May. This national holiday is widely considered the beginning of summer, a few weeks shy of the actual calendar date.More ...Thursday, May 23, 2019

I just returned from visiting my Mother’s grave, where I placed some flowers in her memory for Mother’s Day. It is hard to believe that it has been four years since she passed away. These occasions at the cemetery are sacred moments for me, a time to remember and a time to be grateful for those memories. And, although the Lord has called her home, she has never really left me. I feel her presence with me every single day. I hope and pray that all our faithful whose Moms are with the Lord share that same experience, that same feeling.

Our Mothers are one of God’s greatest gifts to us. They love us unconditionally and without hesitation, asking precious little in return. We honor them with a special Sunday in May once a year but every day that we enjoy the breath of life should be a day to honor our Mothers who, with God’s grace, gave us life. Where would we be without them? It is hard to imagine!More ...Saturday, May 11, 2019

I just returned from visiting my Mother’s grave, where I placed some flowers in her memory for Mother’s Day. It is hard to believe that it has been four years since she passed away.More ...Saturday, May 11, 2019

Good and evil are deeply rooted in humankind; they coexist. When God created the world, however, Scripture tells us, “God looked at everything he had made and found it very good (Genesis 1: 31).”

How did evil originate? The Book of Genesis goes on to talk about the “Garden of Eden” and a tree growing there “in the middle of the garden,” the fruit of which bore knowledge of “good and evil” for those who ate it.

They say “life is a marathon, not a quick sprint.” I think that is true although the older you get, the faster the days seem to pass. The same could be said of the holy season of Lent: it is a marathon to Easter!More ...Tuesday, March 26, 2019

If St. Catherine of Alexandria were alive today, she would no doubt be a member of her high school debating team! It was St. Catherine’s great wisdom, knowledge and debating skills that converted many to Christianity, but also led to her martyrdom.More ...Friday, March 22, 2019

Never before in the history of our country has the life of innocent and vulnerable human beings faced such jeopardy.

Never before in the history of our country have the “inalienable rights” to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” of our citizenry, affirmed by our Founding Fathers in the “Declaration of Independence,” been subject to such denial by those responsible for their legal protection.More ...Thursday, March 21, 2019

The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act – legislation that prohibits infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive following an attempted abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve her or his life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.More ...Tuesday, March 5, 2019

As with so many traditions in the Church, Lent has evolved over the years. People began to emphasize more “giving” rather than “giving up.”

The sober and serious tone of the 40 days of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, became lighter and less intense. Sure, the Church continued to accent the penitential nature of Lent but it did so in different ways, stressing things that were more positive rather than negative. The obligation to sacrifice something was emphasized less as the most immediate item on the Lenten agenda.

I am a great believer in the “both/and” rather than the “either/or” approach to life. And, so, for me Lent is a holy season of penance when I feel called, as a Catholic, by the very nature and purpose of Lent, to both “give up” and to “give” something.

Historically, religious orders developed in the Church, first because of some particular need that was not able to be met in the Church at the time and, second, because the vision and charism of some particular individuals were able to inspire others to come together and determine how to meet that need. And, so, religious orders, communities, congregations and societies were born!

Some of these groups of women and men gathered in monasteries where they lived a life of prayer and worked apart from the world, while others pursued an active life of service in the midst of the world and its needs. Still others have lived their vocation as consecrated virgins, widows or hermits.

The Church approved and fostered their existence and the “rule of life” that governed how they would live and what they hoped to accomplish within and through the Church. Members took special vows or “evangelical counsels” of poverty, chastity and obedience – and some others made additional vows – to help them fulfill their mission and purpose. The Church’s canon law made further distinctions among them to guide and govern their religious life and ministry, eager to help them preserve and foster their unique charisms and contributions to the work of the Church.

Historically, religious orders developed in the Church, first because of some particular need that was not able to be met in the Church at the time and, second, because the vision and charism of some particular individuals were able to inspire others to come together and determine how to meet that need.More ...Thursday, January 31, 2019

This past year, five of our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton were awarded the coveted National Blue Ribbon School recognition by the United States Department of Education.

That is an amazing accomplishment and a source of pride not only for the individual schools themselves – administrators, faculty, staff, volunteers, parish priests, students and families – but for all of us committed to Catholic education.More ...Tuesday, January 22, 2019

I have said it before and I say it again. There is one thing we all have in common, my brothers and sisters. Regardless of our race or place of natural origin; regardless of our religion or absence of it; regardless of our age or status or station in life: God gave us the gift of life which our mothers carried until the day of our birth. We were allowed to live!More ...Friday, January 11, 2019

The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in suburban Mexico City is the most visited Marian shrine in the world. Millions of people pass through the Basilica’s doors each year, especially as the December 12 feast day approaches.More ...Friday, December 14, 2018

Mexico was embroiled in a nasty internal conflict between the Catholic Church and the State government — the “Cristero War,” named by faithful Catholics for “Christ the King” — that lasted from 1926-1929. It was part of larger, ongoing tensions between Church and State in Mexico dating back to the country’s 1857 and 1917 Constitutions, considered by the Catholic faithful to be anti-Church and anti-clergy.More ...Tuesday, December 11, 2018

I confess, I’m guilty. Once Thanksgiving is over, my thoughts turn to Christmas. I put up my tree and decorate the house for that “most wonderful time of the year.” I pull out my Christmas CDs and watch all those great Christmas specials and movies on TV. All these preparations – admittedly, secular – put me in a happy frame of mind and give me a good feeling to welcome my favorite holiday. I don’t want to miss a minute!More ...Friday, November 30, 2018

While we don’t know too much about his early life, what we do know is that young Pedro Calungsod loved the Lord.

He was born around 1654 in Visayas, part of the Philippines controlled by the Spanish empire. He was taught by Spanish Jesuit missionaries there and excelled in the study of the Catechism, so much so that, around the age of 14, he accompanied some of the Jesuit priests and other lay volunteers on a missionary trip to Guam in the Marianas Islands. San Vitores is credited with establishing the first Catholic Church on the Islands.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

These words spoken by Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s classic American novel on race, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” have come to my mind frequently since first reading them in high school. As reasonable as they seem, they are not so easy to put into practice. They offer, however, a compelling and profoundly Christian suggestion for us all.More ...Wednesday, November 28, 2018

As we look to Thanksgiving, many of us will gather with our dear loved ones, and sometimes people we do not know, to celebrate God’s abundant blessings in our lives.

When we sit down at our holiday tables, whether we are surrounded by many or a few or no one else; whether there is loud laughter and conversation or none at all; whether there is a grand turkey before us or something more modest, every one of us can find something in our hearts to be grateful for, something to move us to bow our heads in thankful prayer to God, our creator.More ...Tuesday, November 20, 2018

On May 12, 1962, General Douglas MacArthur returned to West Point to receive an honor from that venerable institution and to address the corps of cadets there.

His memorable speech presented a vision of military service that bore witness to his own long experience and to the nobility of such service. “Duty, honor, country,” he reflected to the cadets and veterans gathered there, “those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be and what you will be. They are your rallying points ...”More ...Friday, November 9, 2018

The Word of God reminds each of us in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: “You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. Do not be afraid for I am with you (Isaiah 41: 9-10).”More ...Friday, November 2, 2018

The Word of God reminds each of us in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: “You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. Do not be afraid for I am with you (Isaiah 41: 9-10).”More ...Friday, November 2, 2018

The devastating tragedy in Pittsburgh and the senseless loss of life at the Tree of Life Synagogue make it horribly clear, once again, that the effects of such hatred and violence are felt by us all, here at home and around the world.More ...Monday, October 29, 2018

There are all kinds of “movements” in the Church that people join: the Catholic Charismatic Movement, the Legion of Mary, Catholic Action, Cursillo, Catholic Athletes for Christ and so on.More ...Thursday, October 25, 2018

Annually, the next to last Sunday of October marks the Church’s Eucharistic celebration for the Missions, World Mission Sunday.

In his message for this year’s celebration on October 21, Pope Francis explains that “life is a mission.” “Each one of us is called to reflect on this fact: ‘I am a mission on this Earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world’ (Evangelii Gaudium 273),” he writes. Focusing on young people, he notes: “In speaking to you, I also address all Christians who live out in the Church the adventure of their life as children of God.”

I have written before of my admiration for Pope Paul VI (1897-1978). With his recent canonization — one of only eight popes in the 2,000-year history of the Church — much attention has been given to him and his papal teachings.More ...Thursday, October 18, 2018

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I am delighted to congratulate the following Catholic schools in the Diocese who have been awarded the coveted “Blue Ribbon” by the United States Department of Education.More ...Monday, October 1, 2018

The expression “culture warrior” is used in contemporary conversation to describe people who fight for those causes that run counter to prevailing cultural values and preferences, chief among those causes, the protection of human life in all its stages, from conception to natural death.More ...Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The birth of a child is usually considered a “blessed event” for parents, and so it was for Italian Catholics Domenico and Rosa Luciani Sulprizio on April 13, 1817, when a son, Nunzio, was born.More ...Wednesday, September 19, 2018

The Church that the Lord Jesus Christ asked to “go out to all the world and tell the good news (Mark 15:16)” has had its share of “not so good news” this summer.

It will make the work of the catechist this particular year harder, for sure. But it is not a reason to stop catechizing. In fact, it makes catechesis even more urgent, more compelling, more necessary to follow the Lord’s command.More ...Friday, September 7, 2018

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once wrote, “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” Ancient wisdom, eternal truth! I like to think that truth applies to the lives of young saints. It is certainly true of the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who was born and lived at the beginning of the 20th century. Rather than telling his story from birth, I’d like to start with his death.More ...Friday, August 24, 2018

“Back to School!” You see the signs everywhere reminding us that it’s that time again. Although they may protest a bit, kids are usually eager to see their friends again after a few months’ absence and get back into their familiar routines.More ...Monday, August 20, 2018

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., published the following message Aug. 16 on diocesan media and has asked that it be read during all Masses the weekend of Aug. 18 and 19:

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I share with our faithful and clergy of the Diocese the revulsion, disgust and anger you feel at all the recent revelations of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy in past decades.

Yes, this Wednesday, August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven and the Patronal Feast of the Diocese of Trenton, IS a holy day of obligation.More ...Thursday, August 9, 2018

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Office has invited all the archdioceses and dioceses of the United States to join together in common prayer and action to promote the Church’s Pro-Life efforts.

To that end, the USCCB has asked that each Friday, from August 3 to September 28, be a time of “prayer and, when possible, fasting for life.”

Blessed Pope Paul VI, scheduled to be canonized a saint on October 14 of this year, was the first pope I ever saw in person. The date was May 25, 1975. The place was St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the canonization Mass for Saints Juan Garcia Lopez-Rico, O.SS.T., and Vincenta Maria Lopez y Vicuña.

I had no particular attachment to either new saint but just happened to be in Rome at the time, prior to entering the novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.). I did have an attachment to Pope Paul VI, however, who was Pope since I first entered the seminary in 1969. I admired him greatly.More ...Friday, July 20, 2018

The great gift of growing older is a cherished treasury of memories, memories of family and friends, memories of joyful celebrations and difficult moments, memories that make us laugh and smile, memories that bring a tear to our eyes, memories of a long life most of which has filled decades of our past and which sustain us in the present, for the future.More ...Thursday, July 19, 2018

The Church just observed the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, commemorating the martyrdom of the Apostles, St. Peter as Chief of the Apostles and St. Paul as the Apostle to the Nations.More ...Monday, July 2, 2018

It is not often that I am surrounded by the experience of pure joy. My visit to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Life in Suffern, New York, this past Saturday was such an occasion.

Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV, Superior General, invited me late last year to celebrate Mass for her Sisters of Life during which four of the Sisters would renew their vows. The special attraction of her invitation was the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the Sisters on the altar I gave them from the chapel of the Bishop’s Mansion in Trenton along with a tabernacle for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.

The epidemic of gun violence has struck once again, this time close to home.

The people of Trenton awoke this morning to the tragic news that twenty of our brothers and sisters – our families, neighbors and friends – were injured during a mass shooting in the early hours of Sunday morning at the city’s “All Night Art Festival.” One suspect has been killed, and the motive is under investigation.

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I hereby establish and decree that July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 shall be celebrated throughout the four counties of Diocese of Trenton as a “Year of Youth.” The purposes and goals of this “Year of Youth” shall be:More ...Friday, June 15, 2018

Graduation from high school is a “rite of passage,” an event shared with your high school classmates here and throughout the United States. The phrase “rite of passage” simply means “a ceremony that marks the transition from one stage of life to another.” And that is certainly true for you. More ...Sunday, June 10, 2018

The heart as a symbol of love dates back to ancient times and the writings of philosophers. In the Middle Ages (12th to early 14th centuries), the heart appeared in popular artwork of the time, gradually finding a place in many religious representations associated with Christ.More ...Thursday, June 7, 2018

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is celebrated throughout the Church in several ways: first, on the altar through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; second, from that same altar in the Sacred Host brought by priests, deacons and lay extraordinary ministers to the sick in hospitals and to the homebound; third, again from that same altar, in prayer and adoration before the Tabernacle containing Sacred Hosts either reserved or exposed in the rite of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.More ...Saturday, June 2, 2018

This weekend, our nation celebrates Memorial Day, a day when we remember those women and men in military service who gave their lives for our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Two elements of this national observance should be kept in mind: sacrifice and freedom.

In the Christian tradition, believers call to mind the words of Jesus about sacrifice: “greater love than this no man has, than that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you ... love one another (John 15:13-17).”

We show that love for our neighbor in America by honoring the freedoms we enjoy, among them: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.

On Thursday, May 17, two Vatican departments — the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development — released a jointly issued document from Jan. 6 entitled “Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones: Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System (hereinafter, CED).”More ...Monday, May 21, 2018

“The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit dwelling with us (Romans 5: 5).”

The Easter Season comes to an end as the Church celebrates the Solemn Feast of Pentecost, traditionally called the “birthday of the Church.” Before returning to his Father, Jesus promised in the Gospel of John that he would send the Holy Spirit to those who believe in him (John 7: 39); that he would ask the Father to give us another, the Advocate, to be with us forever — the Spirit of Truth (John 14: 16-17); that he would not leave us orphans: “I will come to you (John 14: 18),” that when the Spirit comes, “he will guide you into all Truth (John 16: 13).” As Jesus ascended into heaven, described in the Gospel of Matthew, he proclaimed, “Behold, I will be with you always, even until the end of time (Matthew 28: 20).”More ...Thursday, May 17, 2018

I miss her every day. It’s been three years since my Mother passed away. I still find it hard to believe she is gone. She was a wonderful Mom who loved her husband and family without reservation. That’s what mothers do. That’s who mothers are. Unconditional love.

Mother's Day has come once again and our attention turns to the women who gave us life, who took care of us, who raised us and who stood beside us come what may. What a blessing our mothers are, what a gift from God. They deserve more than a single day set aside in their honor. We owe them a lifetime of gratitude and love.

Although, for some of us, death has taken our mom from us, our faith and our memories never separate them from our lives. For those who continue to have their moms with them, Mother's Day is a precious opportunity to let them know how much they mean to us. We are their daughters and sons and always will be. What we have become — the persons we are at any point in our lives, whether young or old — is a reflection of their love, their sacrifices, their guidance, their presence, their dreams, their hopes, their pride. Can we ever repay them for all that they have done, for all that they do for us? Of course, we know the answer to that question. We also know that our moms never expected or expect us to repay them. Their lives are their selfless, enduring gifts to us, gifts that never stop giving whether they are here or in heaven.

Love for Mary, the Blessed Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, is as natural to the Christian as love for one’s own mother. Mary is, after all, the Mother of the Lord and he is, at once, our Savior and our Brother. “We never give more honor to Jesus than when we give honor to his Mother and we honor Her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly. We go to Her only as a way leading to the goal we seek, Jesus Her Son (St. Louis Marie de Montfort).” We worship him as God. We love her as his Mother.

In our own time, Blessed Pope Paul VI encouraged us, writing: “Mary remains ever the path that leads to Christ. Every encounter with her can only result in an encounter with Christ himself.” This is so natural an experience because it is so true.More ...Tuesday, May 1, 2018

In his proclamation for this year’s Catholic Schools’ Week (January 28-February 3, 2018), Governor Murphy gratefully acknowledged that “Catholic schools in the State of New Jersey have educated millions of New Jerseyans throughout the years in preparation for their responsibilities as residents of this State and as members of society.”More ...Thursday, April 19, 2018

When you enter the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, as the clergy and faithful of the Diocese are invited to do on pilgrimage every three years, your attention is immediately focused upon the mosaic of “Christ in Majesty” that adorns the apse behind and above the high altar.More ...Monday, April 9, 2018

St. Paul wrote, “If there is no Resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Corinthians 15: 13-14).”

Those are some pretty big “ifs” with some pretty big consequences for us as Christians. Think about them for a moment. Everything we preach in the Church and everything we believe comes down to this: Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! It’s all about Easter!

Today, as young people across this nation took part in a school walk-out to end gun violence, students in some of our Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Trenton walked out of their classrooms to come together in prayer.

I was deeply moved to stand with the students in Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville as we prayed the Rosary for an end to gun violence in our schools and remembered its victims. I stood in support of several other of our high schools where similar gatherings were held, including St. John Vianney in Holmdel; Donovan Catholic in Toms River; Holy Cross Academy, Delran; St. Rose in Belmar, and Trenton Catholic Academy in Hamilton. More ...Wednesday, March 14, 2018

I didn’t know what to expect as I opened the door to St. Joseph Church in Trenton shortly after 10 pm on Friday, March 9. Despite the late hour, well over 100 people were scattered throughout the Church in silent prayer as 10 parish churches in the four counties of the Diocese celebrated this Lent’s “24 Hours for the Lord,” offering the Sacrament of Penance and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament literally around the clock.

Msgr. Joseph Roldan, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Parish and St. Joseph Parish, warmly greeted the faithful as they entered or left this magnificent church on North Olden Avenue late into the night, with coffee and water available to worshippers in the vestibule. “It’s been like this all day,” Msgr. Roldan whispered.

Father, through our observance of Lent, help us to understand the meaning of your Son’s death and resurrection and teach us to reflect it in our lives.

The “alternative” concluding prayer was:

Lord our God … bring us back to you and to the life your Son won for us by his death on the cross.

It has been clear from the beginning of this holy season of Lent that the Church wants us to focus in a special way on the passion of Christ as the path to Easter glory. One cannot do that without looking to the four Gospels and what are referred to as the “passion narratives” there, those sections of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that take up the story of Jesus’ saving death on the cross. I would like to consider one character in that story.

We begin again. The season of Lent begins with the imposition of ashes on our foreheads in the sign of the cross. The ashes are a “mark of our repentance,” the Liturgy tells us, a sign of blessing upon the “sinner who asks for God’s forgiveness.”More ...Wednesday, February 14, 2018

You can learn a great deal studying the lives of the saints and reading their words. Two giants in the field of social service and pastoral care, St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) and St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660), co-founders of the Daughters of Charity, spoke together often about serving the poor and the sick. Here is one of their conversations:More ...Friday, February 9, 2018

My Mom was a great cook and baker. One needs only to look at her sons to see the evidence! Growing up, I would frequently sit with her in the kitchen as she worked her magic. I remember so well a little file box in the kitchen cabinet, decorated with Pennsylvania Dutch symbols. In it she kept clippings from magazines or notes written out in pencil on index cards or scraps of paper.More ...Wednesday, February 7, 2018

I want to engage your imagination for a moment. Suppose the Lord God appeared to you in a dream and said to you what he said to young Solomon in the First Book of Kings (1 Kings 3:4-13), "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." What do you think you would say?More ...Monday, February 5, 2018

I wanted to become a priest for as long as I can remember. I entered the seminary of a religious congregation rather than a diocesan seminary simply because the diocesan seminary closest to my home closed. There was no profound or noble attraction to the Vincentian Community at first. In my young mind I just figured “a priest was a priest,” the Vincentians accepted me, and off I went.More ...Thursday, February 1, 2018

When a child is baptized in the Catholic Church, his/her parents make promises to help their child grow in the Church’s faith. Parents are their “first teachers,” their “first preachers” of the faith and, as a result, the family home becomes the “first Catholic school” and a “domestic Church.”

Without their direct and active involvement in their child’s faith formation, however, faith doesn’t happen, it won’t happen. Simple things like teaching and “hearing” a child’s prayers, telling Bible stories, taking a child to Church, showing a child the difference between right and wrong, giving good example, treating people with respect and charity and so on, these are all part of Catholic parents’ primary responsibilities to their baptized Catholic children.More ...Friday, January 26, 2018

In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch is appointed as defense lawyer for Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a young white girl in Depression-Era Alabama. Toward the end of Chapter Three, Finch shares his uncompromisingly noble moral philosophy regarding racism and its attendant stereo-typing with his six-year old daughter, Scout. “You never really understand a person,” Atticus tells her, “Until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

That is one of those quotes that prompts me to say, “I wish I had said that.” More ...Friday, January 12, 2018

Memories are part of our lives as human beings. They bring us back to experiences that have formed and shaped us into the people we have become now … today. Christmas is one of those experiences that create many happy memories from our earliest years. We relive those memories every year as we celebrate Christmas again and again.

Memories, however, are not always happy. Sometimes the things we remember make us sad. Some memories we might rather forget. But, whether memories are happy or sad, good or bad, they serve a purpose: we can learn from them. And what we learn can change the way we look at things … can even change our lives.More ...Monday, January 1, 2018

Memories are part of our lives as human beings. They bring us back to experiences that have formed and shaped us into the people we have become now … today. Christmas is one of those experiences that create many happy memories from our earliest years.More ...Monday, January 1, 2018

Every year, the entire world pauses on December 25 to remember the birth of a Child — not just any child but the Christ Child, the Chosen One of God, the Messiah who had been prophesied and foretold from the beginning of human history.More ...Sunday, December 24, 2017

A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on Dec. 8.

Never had our world heard better news than that spoken by the Angel Gabriel to an innocent Jewish maiden, barely a teenager, in the Gospel from St. Luke proclaimed on the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Centuries of longing of the Chosen People of God came to an end as the Angel announced to Mary, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28)."

It is always a wonderful coincidence that our celebration of Thanksgiving occurs before the First Sunday of Advent each year. Although Thanksgiving is not a liturgical feast, it is appropriate on that day to bow our heads in grateful prayer to God before beginning a new Church year.More ...Thursday, November 30, 2017

Those of us old enough to remember the presidency of John F. Kennedy might also remember the attention paid to his being the first Roman Catholic to hold the Office of President. More ...Friday, November 24, 2017

The Greek root of the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” Every celebration of the Eucharist is a thanksgiving for the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the priest consecrates bread and wine, transforming them into Christ’s Body and Blood. We should, indeed, be grateful for this greatest of all gifts.

In the American vocabulary, however, the word “thanksgiving” usually conjures up images of family gathered around a table sharing turkey and all that goes with it every year on the fourth Thursday of November. This feast has a history rooted in the celebration of the newly arrived pilgrims’ first autumn harvest in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. All kinds of meats, fruits and vegetables were shared by pilgrim families and members of the native Wampanoag Indian tribe, who helped the first settlers learn to farm and hunt in this new land. Their “thanksgiving meal” probably bears little resemblance to the holiday we have come to know, but both have thanksgiving to God for his abundant blessings as their motivation.More ...Monday, November 20, 2017

Each October, the celebration of World Mission Sunday leads us to the heart of our Christian faith – leads us to mission, as Pope Francis explains in his message for this year’s celebration on October 22.More ...Friday, October 20, 2017

Respect Life Sunday” is observed every year on the First Sunday of October – this year, October 1 – and the entire month of October that follows has been identified by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as “Respect Life Month.”More ...Thursday, September 28, 2017

Tradition has it that there is an ancient Chinese curse that threatens “may you live in interesting times.”

Although it is frequently quoted, experts report that it is not found anywhere in Chinese literature nor is it most commonly used as a curse. It is, rather, an expression that describes the human social reality of moving from one crisis to another. Regardless of its origin, this phrase certainly seems to be fulfilled in the times in which we live. It is an apt description of current experience in the world and the Catholic Church within it.

“Respect Life Sunday” is observed every year on the First Sunday of October – this year, October 1 – and the entire month of October that follows has been identified by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as “Respect Life Month.” More ...Thursday, September 21, 2017

I am so very grateful to all those who shared so generously with the victims of Hurricane Harvey in the recent (9/2-3/17) parish collection throughout the Diocese of Trenton. Keep your prayers going!

For those who missed the opportunity or who wish to contribute personally toward Hurricane Irma relief, please send your contributions directly to Catholic Charities USA. One hundred percent of proceeds will go directly to relief efforts in the affected areas.More ...Friday, September 15, 2017

The Trump Administration has announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or “Dream Act” this morning, establishing an expiration date on the legal status of some 800,000 people who entered the United States illegally as children.More ...Friday, September 8, 2017

Following is Bishop David M. O’Connell’s homily from the Mass at the gazebo on Silver Lake in Belmar celebrated the morning of Aug. 13, 2017, the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Bishop O’Connell was principal celebrant at the Mass, which was attended by nearly 1,000 people and hosted by five Monmouth County shoreline parishes that comprise Cohort 19.

We are all looking for God in our lives. For many of us, the search is conscious and deliberate. For others, the search is more occasional or sporadic. For still others, the search is hesitant, and we only became aware of God when we deny we are looking or turn away: who are we denying? Who are we turning from? God.More ...Wednesday, August 16, 2017

There is a show on Broadway titled “Dear Evan Hansen.” It tells the story of its title character as he struggles with the anxieties and confusion that sometimes accompany high school teenage years.More ...Friday, June 16, 2017

Each year at this time, we acknowledge and celebrate the many students who graduate from every level – including middle school, high school or institutions of higher learning.More ...Tuesday, June 13, 2017

It often takes a moment or two for things to sink in. When we find ourselves in situations we did not expect, our minds rarely grasp what has happened right away.

That first Easter Sunday morning at the tomb was just such an occasion. All four Gospel accounts describe the women coming to the tomb but finding it empty. They arrived to mourn and to anoint Jesus’ body, but it was not there. We can be sure a thousand thoughts raced through their confused and frightened minds in an instant as they peered into the burial space to see the funeral cloths lying there but no body. “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him (John 20: 2).” They had to be reminded by an angel or two of what Jesus himself had foretold. “And they remembered his words (Luke 24: 8).”More ...Friday, April 7, 2017

In all the confusion that surrounds current political debates on providing affordable health care to the people of the United States, it is difficult to predict what the final outcome will be.More ...Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Holy Season of Lent arrives once more with its invitation to “repent and believe the Good News.”

Those very words are used as ashes are imposed upon our foreheads to mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Both parts of the liturgical directive refer to an active, continuing disposition of heart and soul, not a “one shot deal.”

From St. Mary Cathedral, the Mother Church in Trenton, north to St. Joseph Parish in Keyport, south to St. Theresa Parish in Little Egg Harbor, west to St. George Parish in Titusville along the Delaware River, east to the parishes along the Jersey shore, the Diocese of Trenton rejoices in the elevation of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Freehold to the dignity of a Co-Cathedral for our Diocese!More ...Sunday, February 19, 2017

As we move into a New Year, the time is right for us to adjust our vision to “new things” for our Diocese. While what “has been” in our past experience is comfortable, we are a living, changing Catholic community, a changing local Church that is, in St. Augustine’s words, a “beauty ever ancient, ever new (Confessions, X).”More ...Friday, February 17, 2017

In his message for the Annual “World Day of the Sick 2017,” our Holy Father Pope Francis explained that this commemoration “is an opportunity to reflect ... on the needs of the sick and ... of all those who suffer. It is also an occasion for those who generously assist the sick, beginning with family members, health workers and volunteers, to give thanks for their God-given vocation of accompanying our infirm brothers and sisters.”

Established in 1992 by Pope St. John Paul II, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, the “World Day of the Sick” reminds the Church that “the sickness of a family member, a friend or a neighbor is a call to Christians to demonstrate true compassion, that gentle and persevering sharing in another’s pain.”More ...Thursday, February 9, 2017

Growing up and going to our parish Catholic school, I loved “the nuns” who taught us, the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). While some people seem to enjoy telling “horror stories” about their experiences in Catholic school, I for one consider myself very lucky to have been taught by wonderful religious women. Clad in blue and black from head to toe, these sisters – the “Macs” as we called them – cared deeply for us and we knew it.

When they would emerge in the morning from the Convent next to the school playground, boys and girls rushed over to “carry Sister’s book bag” into the school building. Every class began and ended with a prayer, reminding us all of the presence of God. Classrooms were filled with religious statues and pictures, reminding us all of the heroes of our Church. And the Sisters themselves in their habits, though a bit mysterious – What was their “real name?” What color was their hair? Did they do anything but pray all the time? – the Sisters were always there for us, reminding us of the joy that comes with loving and serving God.

There is a popular quote attributed sometimes to the Irish poet William Butler Yeats (other times to Ralph Waldo Emerson) that states, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”More ...Friday, January 27, 2017

Following is the Bishop’s homily from Jan. 23 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton:

There is one thing we all have in common, my brothers and sisters. Regardless of our race or place of natural origin, regardless of our religion or absence of it, regardless of our age or status or station in life: God gave us the gift of life, which our mothers carried until the day of our birth. We were allowed to live! Every human being who has ever walked the face of this earth shares that one thing in common. And from the moment of our conception until the day of our natural death, we celebrate with gratitude our God-given right to life. Nothing is more fundamental and more precious than that one human right.

On this Inauguration Day 2017, the words of Abraham Lincoln come to mind:

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.

The Church’s annual “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” takes place January 18-25. This year, the theme is “Reconciliation-The Love of Christ Compels Us” (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-ff.). It draws its ecumenical impetus from the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper, “that they may be one (John 17: 21).” As the week approaches, I would like to share a few thoughts that are the fruit of my reading and spiritual reflection.

First, a word about “unity.” Pope Francis has told us:

Unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity. Unity in diversity is actually the opposite: it involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church. It means knowing how to listen, to accept differences, and having the freedom to think differently and express oneself with complete respect towards the other who is my brother or sister. Do not be afraid of differences (Address to Catholic Fraternity of the Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowship, October 31, 2014)!

Similarly, his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, noted:

The way to unity remains long and laborious; yet, it is necessary not to be discouraged and to journey on, in the first place relying on the unfailing support of the One who, before ascending into Heaven, promised his followers: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Unity is a gift of God and the fruit of his Spirit’s action. Consequently, it is important to pray. The closer we draw to Christ, converting to his love, the closer we also draw to one another (General Audience, January 17, 2007).

For generations born after his tragic death in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., is another honored name in American history books. By 1986, our country celebrated his legacy for the advancement of civil rights by creating a national holiday to be observed annually on the third Monday of January, close to his birthday on the 15th of the month. The passage of time has served to solidify his memory as one of the truly great Americans of the 20th century.

For those of us whose lifetime coincided with his almost 40 years, it is difficult to believe that the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Memphis will be commemorated next year. His advocacy does not mark the beginning of the history of the American civil rights movement and his untimely death, thankfully, did not establish its end. Our nation still has a long way to go to reach the goals that he advanced. But I believe it is right to say that the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., represented and continues to represent a turning point in our nation's struggle for the non-violent resolution of the racial tensions that still plague American society.More ...Sunday, January 15, 2017

In the early and mid 1970s, the area of Central New Jersey was experiencing a steady settling by professionals who worked in New York and Northern New Jersey and wanted to provide a wholesome life for their families in the more affordable suburbs. The already thriving churches in the area became insufficient to serve the people of God in this area.

In the early and mid 1970s, the area of Central New Jersey was experiencing a steady settling by professionals who worked in New York and Northern New Jersey and wanted to provide a wholesome life for their families in the more affordable suburbs. The already thriving churches in the area became insufficient to serve the people of God in this area.More ...Wednesday, December 28, 2016

If you are looking to find out what the Bible says about Christmas, you don’t have to look far. The story of Christ’s birth is only mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in what students of the Scriptures call the “infancy narratives.” As you look and compare the two accounts of the same event, you quickly realize that they differ from one another in detail.More ...Monday, December 19, 2016

Never had our world heard better news than that spoken by the Angel Gabriel to an innocent Jewish maiden, barely a teenager, in today's Gospel from St. Luke. Centuries of longing of the Chosen People of God came to an end as the Angel announced to Mary, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."More ...Thursday, December 8, 2016

St. Luke’s Gospel today begins with the sentence: “The people stood by the cross of Jesus, watching” … watching. What were they watching? They were watching the final, dramatic moments of the Lord Jesus Christ as he hung on the Cross. Above his head, the Gospel tells us, was an inscription that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” It isn’t a very royal scene that we hear described in St. Luke’s narrative, at least, as most people think of royalty.More ...Monday, November 21, 2016

The word “vocation” contains a root etymology from the Latin verb “vocare” meaning “to call.” A vocation is defined as a “calling.” It can apply to a job or a way of life that a person feels strongly drawn to or “called” by the work itself and those in need of it. Doctors, nurses and social workers frequently refer to their professions as “vocations.”More ...Thursday, November 3, 2016

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Arthur Serratelli, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, Oct. 28 as a member of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.More ...Friday, October 28, 2016

Every once in a while, we might give in to feeling a little nostalgic. It can come upon us very suddenly in a quiet moment when we drive through the old neighborhood or see an old relative or friend.More ...Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Throughout the past year, the Catholic Church throughout the world has celebrated “The Year of Mercy,” an extraordinary Holy Year proclaimed by Our Holy Father Pope Francis.More ...Thursday, September 29, 2016

This great prayer, whose origins date before the 12th century, uses a meditative repetition of prayers that invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she leads us to consider the mysteries of the life of her Divine Son, Jesus.

This year, September 18 (and the vigil of September 17) has been designated by the Catholic Church in our country as “Catechetical Sunday,” the annual celebration of our common baptismal mission as Catholics to hand on our Catholic faith and witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.More ...Monday, September 12, 2016

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the newest saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was the “Face of Charity” the world over for much of the 20th century.

Documentaries have been produced and many books have been written about her. The only thing more moving than seeing her walk among the poor is reading her words which, in effect, give voice to the beating of her heart.

Wrapped in the white and blue of her simple “sari” habit, rosary at her side, St. Teresa of Calcutta’s irrepressible smile touched the great and the poor alike: those whose names are household words, as well as those who have no place to call home or who will never be known. She was simply “Mother” to everyone and continues to be. It is difficult to imagine all that her eyes saw as she glanced at the world around her.

The “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” was established by Pope Francis last year to be celebrated annually on September 1. It followed the publication of his encyclical letter “Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home (May 24, 2015).” This annual day of prayer was created to offer “to individual believers and the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that he has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live (Pope Francis, August 6, 2015).”More ...Friday, September 2, 2016

Although often attributed to the late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), I often think of the words first stated by American businessman and statesman Bernard Baruch (d. 1965): “Every man (and woman) has a right to his (her) own opinion, but no man (woman) has a right to be wrong in his (her) facts (Deming, NM, Headlight, January 6, 1950).”More ...Thursday, July 28, 2016

Today’s Conference has taken the theme “Evangelization: A Call to Mercy,” very appropriate in this Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, proclaimed by our Holy Father Pope Francis.More ...Saturday, June 25, 2016

Who can forget Alice Cooper's classic ‘70s anthem "School's Out for Summer?" blasting on the airwaves? Even "millennials" have heard it! It's funny how we follow the rhythms of the "school year" no matter how old we get, no matter what job we have. Most of us greet "summer" with the same enthusiasm as kids in school.More ...Thursday, June 23, 2016

When Americans think of "Orlando, Florida," their first thoughts are usually of Disney World -- happy thoughts of a magic place where children of all ages escape from their ordinary, everyday lives to experience the fantasy and fun that only a place like it can offer. That all changed in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 12, 2016, when 49 people were brutally, senselessly murdered by a lone gunman and at least that many others were seriously wounded in Orlando. We awoke to the largest massacre in U.S. history that has left us all horrified and numb with grief.More ...Thursday, June 16, 2016

When Americans think of "Orlando, Florida," their first thoughts are usually of Disney World -- happy thoughts of a magic place where children of all ages escape from their ordinary, everyday lives to experience the fantasy and fun that only a place like it can offer. That all changed in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 12, 2016, when 49 people were brutally, senselessly murdered by a lone gunman and at least that many others were seriously wounded in Orlando. We awoke to the largest mass shooting in U.S. history that has left us all horrified and numb with grief.

We have become accustomed to such tragedies in other places in the world, Paris and Brussels and Tel Aviv among them in recent months. It would be just a matter of time for us to join their mortally stricken ranks. Events like Sunday's carnage in Orlando leave us reeling, haunted by the questions "When will the violence and killing stop? Will we ever feel safe anywhere again?" What was once unimaginable has now become increasingly commonplace and all too real.More ...Monday, June 13, 2016

The time for priest assignments and transfers has again arrived. As parishes and other ministries of the Diocese prepare to bid farewell to the priests who are moving to other assignments, and welcoming other, newly-assigned priests, we thought it was timely to re-post a column that Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., had written in the spring of 2012. More ...Friday, May 27, 2016

We have some very good news about our diocesan endowment campaign, "Faith to Move Mountains." With only 47 parishes having completed the campaign so far, we have surpassed the half-way point of our $75 million goal.More ...Friday, May 13, 2016

APRIL 10, 2016 -- REMAINING TIME IN ROME OFFERS PILGRIMS TIME FOR PRAYER, WORSHIP, SHARING CAMARADERIE -- We departed PNAC on Saturday afternoon, April 9, and made our way to The Cardinal St. Peter Hotel, where we all will spend the rest of our Diocesan pilgrimage together, minutes outside of Rome near the beautiful gardens of Pamphili.More ...Saturday, April 9, 2016

APRIL 7, 2016 -- WHILE PILGRIMS HEAD FOR LUCA, PISA AND SIENA, IT'S BACK TO ROME FOR BISHOP AND FATHER JASON -- On April 7, the bus left our hotel in Montecatini for Luca and Pisa. Everybody was in great spirits as our pilgrimage continued. All on board, except for Father Jason and me since we had to return to Rome. Our tour guide, Elena from Unitours, has been marvelous.More ...Saturday, April 9, 2016

For all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Easter is the heart of our faith --- its life, its breath, its hope, its everything. There is no more significant human expression than faith in Jesus’ resurrection.More ...Saturday, March 26, 2016

The blessing of oil to be used in the administration of the sacraments for the coming year is an ancient custom in the Catholic Church. We can find liturgical evidence of this ritual as early as the 4th century, probably even earlier. The blessing of sacramental oils is an occasion when the priests of a diocese surround their bishop at the Eucharist in one great show of pastoral and personal unity.More ...Tuesday, March 22, 2016

During this Holy Year of Mercy, and especially now during the sacred season of Lent, Pope Francis exhorted Catholics throughout the world to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

As part of a Holy Year of Mercy observance in the Trenton Diocese, The Monitor is reposting a comprehensive, three-part series on the Sacrament of Reconciliation that Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., wrote in 2014, in which he reflected on its theology, included a guideline on how to go to confession and, most importantly, emphasized the infinite love that God has for his people. The Bishop's series on the Sacrament of Reconciliation begins here.

Losing things is the occupational hazard of getting older. I know! I can't tell you how many times each week I misplace my keys or wallet or cellphone, even important papers. It drives me crazy.More ...Sunday, February 28, 2016

Having had the privilege of knowing him and enjoying his company on numerous occasions, I did not want to miss the opportunity to add my voice to the chorus of those who mourn the passing of this native son of the Diocese.More ...Saturday, February 13, 2016

No serious study of English Literature can be complete without consideration of the works of William Shakespeare. One of his classic comedies, “Much Ado about Nothing,” presents a tale of love and deception in a humorous way with characters caught up in its unfolding drama.

Over 50 years ago, the Second Vatican Council described the purpose of the Catholic school as creating "for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit ... (Vatican II, "Declaration on Christian Education, 8")."More ...Monday, January 25, 2016

When Jesus was speaking to the crowd about being the Good Shepherd in John’s Gospel he assured them, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Notice that he did not speak conditionally.More ...

As people the world over celebrate the end of 2015 and the arrival of a bright new year filled with hope and possibility, the Church also marks the annual World Day of Peace.More ...Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Christmas story tonight is no different than it has ever been. Same characters; same stable; same angels; same shepherds; same star year after year after year. You would think after 2,000 years, Christians would get tired of telling the same story. And, yet, they never have and I suspect they never will. The real miracle of the Christmas story is precisely that: it never gets old!More ...Saturday, December 26, 2015

The story that we read in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and see portrayed in manger scenes is so touching and beautiful that one cannot help but be moved. It truly tugs at the heart ... but it also gives us much to ponder. More ...Saturday, December 19, 2015

For most of us, the idea of "going home" brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, a much longer period of separation. It's good to be home.More ...Monday, December 14, 2015

The Lord Jesus began his public ministry at the Wedding feast of Cana, the scene of today’s Gospel reading. St. John makes a point of writing: the “Mother of Jesus was there.” We cannot help but notice this phrase and her presence.More ...Saturday, November 28, 2015

Thanksgiving has arrived once again, and our families gather from near and far to celebrate this annual feast. The important word there is “families.” This past year, as Catholics, our attention has been focused on family life.More ...Thursday, November 19, 2015

The Apostles were devastated at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. They had lived and traveled everywhere with him for the three years of his public ministry and had placed all their hope in him. And then, suddenly, he was gone. He had warned them, but they paid little attention. Now what? The change was beyond their comprehension. They huddled together in fear and disappointment, worried about their own future.More ...Tuesday, November 3, 2015

The Apostles were devastated at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. They had lived and traveled everywhere with him for the three years of his public ministry and had placed all their hope in him. And then, suddenly, he was gone. He had warned them, but they paid little attention. Now what?More ...Tuesday, November 3, 2015

In our Gospel from St. Mark our Lord Jesus and his apostles are traveling again with a large crowd following them. They are leaving Jericho, some claim the oldest inhabited city in the world.More ...Wednesday, October 28, 2015

I remember as though it were yesterday, sitting at my own presidential installation Mass at The Catholic University of America 17 years ago. I can recall thinking to myself in the midst of it all “what have I gotten myself into?”More ...Friday, October 16, 2015

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I consider it a privilege to invite all members of the Diocese to remember and share our conviction as Catholics with everyone you meet that “every life is worth living.”More ...Friday, October 9, 2015

Few would argue that the pastoral visit of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families 2015 did not move our hearts deeply. The reason? Because Pope Francis moved our hearts deeply.More ...Friday, October 2, 2015

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, I have the joyful privilege of extending to our Holy Father Pope Francis a heartfelt word of welcome to the United States of America on behalf of all the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese.

This is an especially happy occasion since it is the Holy Father's first trip ever to our country. We hope that these few days will provide Pope Francis with the opportunity to get to know us as we embrace him with much affection and enthusiasm and as we open our minds and hearts to his messages in New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.More ...Sunday, September 20, 2015

As Bishop of the Diocese, I hear it said at times that “all the Church is interested in is money.”

Anyone who is really familiar with the works of the Catholic Church knows that is not true. But, anyone who lives in this world knows that important works with significant results require support: the support of prayer, the support of talented, hard-working people’s efforts, the support of good people’s generosity.More ...Tuesday, September 15, 2015

The Gospels are filled with stories about Lord Jesus’ healing the sick. It is not simply their infirmities and suffering that draws his attention to them: it is their faith in the midst of infirmities and suffering that captures his notice.

He heals them, yes, but more importantly, he offers their human experience to the rest of us as an example of how to live with afflictions that affect our health. “Your faith has made you well (Luke 17: 19; Mark 5: 34; Luke 8: 48).”

There is always a deeper, more profoundly spiritual purpose and meaning to the healing miracles of the Lord Jesus. He wants us to believe in him; to trust him; to hand our lives over to him; to let him make us whole.

Watching all of the political craziness that surrounds the 2016 presidential campaign as it currently unfolds, commentators seem to be focused on a common theme: people are angry. Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike are angry with Washington, D.C., and the direction our government and our country have taken in the last decade. So many candidates make promises that none of them keep. And they are not helping calm people’s fears.

Once again, the proponents of abortion under their hackneyed banners of “reproductive rights” and “women’s health,” are rallying against pro-life supporters and others who are voicing their outrage at Planned Parenthood’s selling of dismembered aborted fetus’ parts, as discussed by executives on recently revealed videotapes.

It is hard to conceive or imagine a perfect human being: a person without flaws or defects; a person who has no faults or imperfections. At the same time, it is easy to identify things that are wrong with another, things that another person lacks. We do it all the time. We might easily say he is not smart, she is not beautiful, he or she has no talent for this or that.More ...Saturday, August 15, 2015

I am sure that most people who have watched recent video revelations and news reports showing the harvesting and selling of organs and body parts from aborted human fetuses by Planned Parenthood are horrified.More ...Sunday, August 2, 2015

The Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law has this to say about bishops:

Bishops, who by divine institution succeed to the place of the Apostles through the Holy Spirit who has been given to them, are constituted pastors in the Church, so that they are teachers of doctrine, priests of sacred worship, and ministers of governance (canon 375.1).

Every year, I meet with all the pastors and priests in each of the Diocese's four county vicariates. These visits afford me, as Diocesan Bishop, the opportunity to share some thoughts with the priests and to invite any questions from or discussion with them.More ...Monday, July 6, 2015

Throughout the centuries the Catholic Church believed what it taught and teaches. It did and does so because those teachings are true, not because they are easy or pleasing. Truth is true, not because we believe it; truth is true whether we believe it or not.

On the night before he died, Jesus cautioned Peter, "he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword (Matthew 26: 52)" as he tried to defend the Lord against his captors in the Garden of Gethsemane. Neither way of life is good, living by the sword or dying by the sword.More ...Saturday, June 20, 2015

Our minds cannot fathom the horror that transpired when Tamara Seidle was shot and killed in front of her own seven-year old daughter on Tuesday morning in Asbury Park. Such senseless and tragic violence has become all too commonplace in society.More ...Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Five years ago today, June 4, 2010, I stood here in the Bishop Ahr Conference Room of the Chancery and was introduced to the Diocese for the first time as its new coadjutor bishop by Bishop John M. Smith.More ...Thursday, June 4, 2015

I don't like change. There, I said it. And the older I get, the less I like it. That having been said, I have to admit that "change" seems to be the only constant in our world. Look in the mirror sometime. When I do, I often say to myself "where did you come from?" When did I start losing the hair on the back of my head? Where did those jowls come from? I never had that belly before!More ...Thursday, May 21, 2015

Most Catholics religiously identify with their parish rather than the diocese to which it belongs. That is certainly understandable since most Catholics live their religious life, receive their Sacraments and worship in their own territorial parish. The "parish" is a more concrete reality than the "diocese," which is more abstract. For most Catholics, the parish is “the Church.”More ...Wednesday, April 29, 2015

As Bishop of Trenton, I express the gratitude of the entire Diocese to Sr. Rosemary Jeffries, RSM, for her 14 years of incredible service and transforming leadership as Eighth President of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, the only Catholic university in our Diocese.More ...Thursday, April 9, 2015

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus’ Mother Mary, his followers and friends to witness the absolute brutality of his crucifixion? The Son that Mary bore and raised with such tenderness and love; the Teacher whom the disciples left everything to follow; the friends who surrounded him with great devotion.More ...Saturday, March 28, 2015

It has been brought to the attention of the Diocese of Trenton that an organization called “Mary’s Way Worldwide Apostolate” is operating in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, Brick Township, within the Diocese of Trenton.More ...Friday, March 20, 2015

Our Holy Father Pope Francis commemorated the second anniversary of his pontificate today, March 13, by announcing an extraordinary jubilee — a Holy Year of Mercy– selecting a theme that has frequently accompanied his homilies and messages since ascending the Chair of Peter.